Is Central Asia entering a new era of resource-driven geopolitics — or repeating old patterns of dependency? In this episode of the Central Asia Center Podcast, Senior Analyst Dania Arayssi speaks with Dr. Ariel Cohen, a leading expert on energy geopolitics in Russia and Central Asia, about the growing importance of critical minerals and energy security in shaping the region’s relationship with the United States. As global demand for critical minerals accelerates, the conversation explores whether this moment presents an opportunity for deeper, more balanced partnerships — or risks reinforcing longstanding patterns of resource dependency. Drawing on decades of experience, Dr. Cohen reflects on how Central Asia has evolved from a post-Soviet periphery into a region of growing strategic importance, and what this shift means for global competition, regional development, and future U.S. engagement.

What is the future of U.S. engagement in Central Asia, and how has Washington’s approach to the region evolved over time?

In this episode of the Central Asia Center Podcast, Senior Analyst Dania Arayssi speaks with former U.S. Ambassador Daniel Rosenblum, who served in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and spent nearly three decades at the U.S. State Department across five presidential administrations.

Drawing on his extensive experience, Ambassador Rosenblum reflects on the surprising continuity in U.S. policy toward Central Asia, including a sustained focus on sovereignty, stability, and economic development, even amid broader geopolitical shifts.

The conversation also explores the legacy of Cold War-era policies such as the Jackson-Vanik sanctions, their relevance today, and what their potential removal could mean for regional economic integration and U.S. strategy moving forward.

🎙️ Featuring: Daniel Rosenblum, Former U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

Hosted by Dania Arayssi, Senior Analyst at New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy

In this episode of the Central Asia Center Podcast, Senior Analyst Dania Arayssi speaks with Richard Spooner, Senior Fellow at the Caspian Policy Center, about the evolving strategic partnership between the United States and Kazakhstan and what it means for the broader geopolitics of Central Asia.

As global competition intensifies and new economic and security alignments take shape, Central Asia is emerging as a critical region in global affairs. This conversation explores how the U.S.–Kazakhstan relationship is evolving and why it matters for energy security, investment, and the balance of influence among major powers.

Drawing on decades of experience working in the region, Richard Spooner provides an on-the-ground perspective from Astana, examining Kazakhstan’s role in regional stability, foreign investment, and its growing importance in global geopolitical dynamics.

Topics discussed include: • The strategic importance of U.S.–Kazakhstan relations • Kazakhstan’s role in Central Asia’s geopolitical landscape • Energy, investment, and economic cooperation • Great-power competition in the region • Why Central Asia is becoming increasingly important for global security

The Central Asia Center at the New Lines Institute produces policy-relevant research and analysis on one of the most strategically important yet underreported regions in global affairs.

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